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They Shall Speak With New Tongues

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

BibleLight

These words came from Jesus Christ Himself, the Lord of the Church. And, for almost two thousand years it has been fulfilled. The Early Church Fathers have documented this great truth all the way into the Fourth Century. (Please save judgment for this article until you read it carefully. I beg all of you to write a comment after you read this article regardless of your belief system. This could be a marvelous study after everyone has posted.) Before we list different quotes from noted men and historians, we should first read what the Lord Himself said so clearly, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:16-17). Isaiah, the statesman prophet, had prophesied about this same promise. The Book of Acts and Apostle Paul’s first letter to Corinth also makes this truth unquestionable.

Speaking in unknown languages by the utterance of the Spirit has been a mighty force for spiritual progress throughout church history. At the same time, this great truth has probably been abused more than any other Bible subject. Satan and his dark minions have both fought this mystery and produced their own imitation. There have been more outright violations of this manifestation than all other Biblical mysteries. No error in Satan’s design is executed against errors themselves. Satan fights truth and this is one truth he hates profoundly and he has often confused both believers and the Church World.

This powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit keeps returning every time an awakening of spiritual life is revived. The prophesied “Latter Rain” will likely be the next major explosion of anointed languages by the Holy Ghost. “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand” spoke the servant of the prophet Elijah and I declare the words of Elijah, “I, hear (by the Holy Spirit) the sound of an abundance of rain” (II Kings 8:44).

The Church Fathers’ spoke proudly of this phenomenon in their midst. Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165) wrote, “For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to this present time.” (Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 82.)

Irenaeus (A.D. 130-202) wrote, “We speak wisdom among them that are perfect, terming those persons ‘perfect’ who have received the Spirit of God, and who through the Spirit of God do speak in all languages . . . and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men, and declare the mysteries of God.” (Irenaeus Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 6, Section 1.)

Tertullian (A.D. 155-230) was reproving a false teacher named Marcion and challenged him with the following, “Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his god, some prophets, such as have not spoken by human sense, but with the Spirit of God, such as have predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart; let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer — only let it be by the Spirit, in an ecstasy, that is, in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him.” (Tertullian Against Marcion, Book 5, Chapter 8.) Then he boasted, “Now all these signs (of spiritual gifts) are forthcoming from my side without any difficulty.” (Ibid.)

A theologian, scholar and writer named Novatian (A.D. 258) proudly defended the gifts of the Spirit, “This is He who places prophets in the Church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives powers and healings, does wonderful works, often discrimination of spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are of charismata; and thus make the Lord’s Church everywhere, and in all, perfected and completed.” (Treatise Concerning the Trinity, Chapter 29.)

Another noted bishop of the Fourth Century, Ambrose (A.D. 340-397), was fully supportive of Spiritual gifts in the church. He declared, “The Holy Spirit gave divers kinds of tongues.” (Of the Holy Spirit 8, 149-151.)

Then, as the Fourth Century ended, the church world had become indifferent to the manifestation of the gifts. A well-known bishop of that period named John Chrysostom (A.D. 347-407) wrote despairingly of the growing poverty of spiritual life. As he explained his concerns, he stated, “This whole place is very obscure: but the obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to and by their cessation (speaking of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost), being such as then used to occur but now no longer take place . . . Well: what did happen then? Whoever was baptized he straightway spake with tongues and not with tongues only, but many also prophesied, and some also performed many other wonderful works . . . they [the Corinthians] at once on their baptism received the Spirit . . . And one straightway spake in the Persian, another in the Roman, another in the Indian, another in some other tongue: and this made manifest to them that were without that it is the Spirit in the very person speaking . . . For as the Apostles themselves had received this sign first, also the faithful went on receiving it, I mean, the gift of tongues.” (Saint Chrysostom: Homily on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians, Phillip Schaff, 1889, Volume 12, Homily 35 NPNF 211.)

Chrysostom went further to describe the sorrowful state of the church without the manifestation of the Spirit, “What now can be more awful than these things? For in truth the Church was a heaven then, the Spirit governing all things, and moving each one of the rulers and making him inspired. But now we retain only the symbols of those gifts . . . they thus used to speak, not of their own wisdom, but moved by the Spirit. But not so now: (I speak of mine own case so far.) But the present Church is like a woman who hath fallen from her former prosperous days, and in many respects retains the symbols only of that ancient prosperity; displaying indeed the repositories and caskets of her golden ornaments, but bereft of her wealth: such an one doth the present Church resemble. And I say not this in respect of gifts: for it were nothing marvelous if it were this only: but in respect also of life and virtue.” (Saint Chrysostom: Homily on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians,” Phillp Schaff, 1889. Homily 36, NPNF 219-220.) What a marvelous longing for the return of Pentecostal powers!

The last of the early church fathers that I shall quote is the noted teacher and scholar, Augustine (A.D. 354-430). He joined Chrysostom in sorrowing over the state of the church. He declared, “For who expects in these days that those on whom hands are laid that they may receive the Holy Spirit should forthwith begin to speak with tongues?” (Augustine, On Baptism, Against the Donatists, Section 3, Chapter 16, NPNF 443.)

The majority of our present church world should weep with Chrysostom and Augustine over the loss of the awesome gifts of the Holy Spirit! But, the church will not continue in this broken condition. Dead churches are slowly going out of business or joining the “Emergent Church” of apostasy and deception.

The Deep Biblical Truth of Unknown Languages
Isaiah was the first prophet to receive the truth of how the Holy Ghost would affect the New Testament church. He clearly knew that something miraculous was in the making. Writing by the Spirit he declared, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:11-12). Apostle Paul quoted a portion of this prophecy by Isaiah in his great exposé on the gifts of the Spirit and left no doubt as to what God’s prophet was trying to show the future church. The ministry of languages was clearly planned to give divine breath to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

As Jesus was reaching the apex of His life He began preparing His disciples for His departure. The Words of God that were quoted at the beginning of this article were a perfect insight of what was to occur. They had a spiritual language and spiritual power to continue His miraculous life and ministry. Speaking in tongues or unknown languages were to be the language of the spiritual life they were to experience. They were to speak to the church with tongues and an interpretation; and be able to speak directly to God where no one could understand them but God Himself.

There are several terms that describe the ministry of languages. Isaiah said they would have “stammering lips” and speak in “another tongue.” Jesus said they would speak with “new tongues.” On the Day of Pentecost it was said, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3-4). Apostle Paul spoke about “tongues of men and of Angels.” Then, Apostle Paul spoke of “unknown tongues” in his discourse to the Corinthians. It’s impossible to receive such clear statements and not take it seriously.

On the Day of Pentecost all one hundred and twenty disciples, followers of Christ and the women present, spoke in languages other than the one they knew. The writer stated that “all” of Christ’s disciples in the upper room were filled and that “all” began to speak in “other tongues.” These were languages understood by the many nations represented at this great Jewish feast. All the happy believers were Galileans, but they spoke capably to the visitors and the crowd was overwhelmed with these supernatural signs and wonders. There were three thousand converted to Christ that same day. We will show you a little later that tongues are a sign to unbelievers as they proved to us on this historic day.

The early church continued to see this wonder as they went forth preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. Cornelius was an Italian, a Roman centurion. He was unconverted but devout and a lover of the Jews. After the message to him from an angel, he sent for Peter. God had to arrest Peter with a vision, but then Peter obeyed and went to Cornelius’ house. He preached Jesus with power and anointing. The Holy Ghost saved and filled Cornelius and his household. “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:44-46) The pattern of Pentecost was clearly established.

Prayer is the life of every believer and the source of supernatural power in the church. But, this prayer life must be more than unemotional words spoken by unspiritual people. Apostle Paul takes the idea of Holy Ghost languages to a level of supernatural praying. He put this in his “Romans Road” letter to the church at Rome. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).

He reminds the church of our weaknesses in this clay pot in which we dwell. So often we do not know what to pray. Do we give up or do we submit ourselves before His awesome Spirit He sent to abide in us? Quickly understanding why He sent His Holy Ghost and why He told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until this promise came, we must find a place to wait on God. The language of the Holy Ghost becomes God’s manifestation in our prayer closet.

He knows everything about you and about your circumstance and He knows the answer. The Holy Ghost with the language of the spiritual world will continue His great ministry in us. We are partners in this activity because He uses our lips and our spirit but goes straight to the Lord and His Father. The devil cannot listen in to plan his defense. It’s a straight line from the Third Person of the Trinity to the Throne Room in Heavenly Jerusalem. No wonder the early church was guilty of “turning the world upside down.”

Apostle Paul knew this powerful prayer life and is a testimony to its mighty victory. Paul taught this truth for all of us, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God; I speak with tongues more than ye all” (I Corinthians 14:14-18). Such praying will turn your life into a spiritual dynamo and drive the devil back in defeat.

When a person is saved they are a babe in Christ and the road to maturity is loaded with side steps. Building a spiritual life requires living in the Spirit. The Spirit is the third member of the Godhead and He is a person just like the Father and the Son. He speaks the language of Heaven and that language will make a spiritual saint out of you. Listen again to Apostle Paul, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church” (I Corinthians 14:2&4). This is spiritual edification that occurs in a believer when they allow the Holy Spirit to build up the spirit-man in them.

The half brother of Jesus Christ joined Paul in reminding us of our need to become spiritual believers. With unmistakable words, he said, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20). This is not cheap human manipulated jargon, but it is the person of the Spirit that lives in our temple anointing us to speak Heaven’s languages. The devils have a language and God’s angels have a language – may be the same as our spiritual language — and it’s unthinkable that we cannot be a part of the Spirit world. The demon possessed man or woman is part of Satan’s language world and often has been heard speaking his garbage. Persons that think they can speak in tongues at their own will should beware of the possibility of false spirits giving them their dark tongues.

It’s very important that we understand that true spiritual languages have been given to the church to bring conviction on the ungodly or unsaved. Apostle Paul made a very plain statement in this regard and stated that Isaiah intended the same truth. Here are Paul’s words, “In the law it is written, with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (I Corinthians 14:21-22). When the House of God is full of the Holy Ghost and His saints are worshipping and singing in the Spirit, conviction will fall on the unsaved. It happened at Pentecost when three thousand were converted. Most sinners will know the difference between a church full of confusion and a church full of the Spirit. Paul was careful to teach a Biblical order and to state that preaching or teaching is not to be done in tongues but with understanding.

Here are Paul’s beautiful words by the Spirit about order in a church full of the Spirit. “How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (I Corinthian 14:26-28). Confusion and wild insanity in Pentecostal churches has caused much distaste for those of us who take these truths literally.

The person of the Holy Spirit is very God just as the Father and the Son are very God. He can be “quenched” (I Thessalonians 5:19), “grieved” (Ephesians 4:3), “resisted” (Acts 7:51), “lied to” (Acts 5:3); and, finally, when all hope is gone “blasphemed.” His rightful place in the church and the Saints is supernatural and utterly life-changing. The church without the presence of the Holy Spirit is nothing but dead letter. I love one of Apostle Paul’s greatest revelations, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (11 Corinthians 4:7).

The writer of Proverbs spoke about our tongues and languages. He declared by the Spirit, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21). Again, he said, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). He then adds, “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom” (Proverbs 10:20-21).

No wonder our Father chose the tongues of His saints to become a great instrument of His Spirit’s activity among us. If you claim to be filled with the Spirit, then surrender to Him to manifest Him in you. When you understand that our tongue is the last stronghold of the carnal man, you will appreciate that God made it His place of victory where the Holy Ghost would manifest His mastery in your life.

Please share your comments about this article. I delight in knowing your response and interest. As a classical Pentecostal I want the world to know what we believe concerning this important subject.

(Quotes from Church Fathers were taken from this website: http://brothermel.com/tonguesthroughoutchurchhistory.aspx .)

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Satan is Busy Buying Souls

Friday, August 27th, 2010

HouseMadeMoney

Yes, Satan has a kingdom and he gives it to whosoever he will. That’s an overwhelming thought and it is changing the way many people live. Satan made that point to Jesus and the Son of God did not argue with it. He simply rejected any desire to be a part of his dark world. Look at the manner in which Satan tempted Jesus, “And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (St. Luke 4:5-8). The Scripture further states that Satan is the “god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4). If you will give him your soul, he does have the power to give you the kingdom of the world.

Our world has a multitude of people that Satan has purchased just like he tried to buy Jesus. Many people will look at their worldly blessings and say, “Look what God has blessed me with.” They do not know that it was not the God of Heaven but the false god of this world. Any material blessing that does not come in a manner that makes you a greater saint or richer toward God did not come from the Heavenly Father. Anything you possess that robs you of your family time, your church life, or your devotion in the Word of God and prayer is not from the God of Eternity. When your job becomes a weight around your neck, you must ask the Lord of your life to free you for His kingdom from the burden of destruction.

If the world offers you some great possession that separates you from the church where God has planted you, you must stop to consider the source of that offer. If the world tries to buy you away from the time necessary to be a great elder or deacon in your church, a dedicated dad or mom, or a dedicated husband or wife, the offer did not come from the third heaven but from that kingdom in the mid-air. Satan is very busy buying this world’s allegiance. We look at lives of rock stars, movie actors, and other celebrity personalities and quickly admit that they have sold out to the god of this world. Do not forget that the devil is buying the little man or woman just like he is buying the big fish.

No wonder Jesus made such strenuous requirements for His disciples and saints. The world and its god, Lucifer, are constantly after your heart. Satan will pay any price to buy and destroy your soul and the only possibility for your eternal salvation is total surrender to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. You must “forsake all,” the entire world and all of its claims for your one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” (St. Luke 9:23b-25). Later, He added, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27). The majority of the church world is religious but knows nothing of this kind of Biblical surrender. They are going to be eternally lost unless someone gets this message to their heart.

The only blessings you can count as being from God are those that come to you after you have denied all to follow Jesus. When you surrender to Him, deny yourself, and deny all the claims men make on you in exchange for the one life of total lordship under Jesus Christ, He will meet all of your needs and give you more than Satan could have ever given, plus eternal life. That is His promise to every saint of God. Read carefully, “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting” (St. Luke 18:29-30). His offer to every living soul is to give you His Kingdom if you will refuse Satan’s kingdom. There are only two kingdoms in the world and the choice is yours. Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (St. Luke 12:32).

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Our God is Addicted to Our Love

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Worship

It is amazing how much our Heavenly Father reaches for the love of His choice creation. The human family was made in His likeness and the capacity of incredible love was a primary trait. The two most powerful words to describe God and man are “holy” and “love.” His holiness is a “loving holiness” and His love is a “holy love.” We were designed to be characterized by both great abilities combined with God at the center. If we remove God, our love will become hellish.

Look at the homosexual and lesbian world. Try to understand the darkness of a Muslim suicide bomber. Watch a dad or mom leave their loving companion and beautiful children for a fling in a forbidden bed. The dark things done in the name of love are legendary and ugly. Love out of control is nothing but love without purity. It’s love that marks the victim with the marks of death. Bringing a soul back from this brink is often impossible.

This same capacity that is baptized with Jesus Christ will create beautiful saints that bless both God and man. The Son of God taught us about His great love for His Father. Every Christian should read the Book of John with a view of nothing but Christ’s love for the Father. He declared that while He was in the world He was still in the Father’s bosom. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). No man ever spoke greater words than these words. While He was on this earth, He lived every day in the divine sphere of eternity. No wonder He cried as the cross took its toll of death and separation, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).

His death is now our grace to be free from unclean love so we can love like Jesus Christ loved. It must begin by loving the Father like He loved the Father. He never charges us with anything that He does not provide. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). His first commandment to us is to love both His Father and, then, our neighbors.

When we fall head over heels in love with the “Sovereign God (the Father), His Son, and the Holy Ghost,” a transformation occurs deep inside the human spirit. At that moment we have actually returned to the very original reason for which He created us. Loving God is as intrinsic to the spirit of man as God loving man is to the heart of God. Holy love is what we were made to feel and express. It will immediately move beyond our love for God and show up in our love for our loved ones. This is the heart of a great saint and a great church.

Then, a supernatural thing occurs. The unexplainable divine God falls in love with you afresh. The Bible says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (II Chronicles 16:9a). Enoch was such a man and God became addicted to Enoch’s love, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). The Father took him back to His house for eternity.

Job spoke similar words in the midst of his great despair, “What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?” (Job 7:17-18). Be careful to discern the depth of these words. Notice the statements that God “shouldest set thine heart upon him” and “that thou shouldest visit him every morning.” This is what the Father did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We must learn that prayer and worship are bound together. When we come to love Him with a passion of loving Him, He will acknowledge the altar where this occurs and He will begin to meet us there.

Jesus said this in His great pastoral prayer and then He described it even deeper, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). There are so few saints that have become great lovers of God. We are not speaking of giddy love that is all show with little substance. This love has moved beyond fleeting emotions and empty speech. This is love on a sphere that has clouds for its lining and the mountains on which to skip.

Worldly things have lost their hold on the level of love that can say with the Apostle Paul, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10). As I write, He invites us to fall in love with Him so that we allow Him to fall in love with us. He loves everyone with a saving love; but, He can only love the sanctified and set apart with intimate love.

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The Casting Out of Unclean Spirits

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Chains

The cultures of the world are being progressively mastered by unclean spirits. Almost our entire church population is completely helpless before this hostile takeover. In most cases parents with unclean children simply retreat and give themselves to silent misery. Ministers have no idea what to do but call in a religious or secular psychologist.

It’s a spiritual war and the answer is right in the Word of God. The people of God, godly saints, have not been left in a hopeless condition. We have the means of perfect victory over every design of the devil against our lives. If the Church will wake up and give herself back to the supernatural provisions of our Triumphant Head, the victorious Son of God, everything will change.

We must believe that Satan has been totally defeated by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The devil can do nothing except what the Lord Jesus Christ allows or what the Body of Jesus Christ allows. There are certain areas of the End Times, where Satan has been given his final liberties. Jesus Christ has him on a leash. All other areas of his activities are limited by mankind, whether they are sinners or saints. With the sinner, Satan does as he pleases unless they turn to the Lord. But, with God’s saints, he does his dark deeds because we do not know our rights or because we simply forfeit our rights. In most cases the people of God simply face the terror of the devil as their fate. It’s almost like the saints of the Lord beg the devil for mercy. Believe me, he has no mercy!

We must understand the total victory that the Son of God has achieved. The early church was a perfect example of that glorious triumph. Unbelieving Bible teachers and preachers have helped the devil big time by trying to establish that all supernatural possibilities ended when the Bible was completed. Nothing in the Bible suggests such utter defeat. The opposite has never ceased to be true.

Jesus Christ has totally defeated Satan. As recorded by John, He stated, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). John, also, stated in his first epistle, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). The entire Book of Acts is a picture of one supernatural event after another. Church history is full of great revivals, miraculous healings, demons being cast out, and awesome signs and wonders. Angels have been seen and their powers witnessed by multitudes. You must settle this fact or you can forget seeing evil spirits defeated in your life.

Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. These were the very words of the Son of God Himself. But, He did not end with this warning. He said, “I am come that they (you) might have life (victorious, triumphant and glorious) and that they (you) might have it more abundantly (supernatural and complete)” (John 10:10). This cannot mean anything but a life lived in victory over the devil and this world of evil. Jesus promises, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

John wrote to the church and said, “I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one” (I John 2:13b). It’s time that the Body of Christ stands up and starts “casting out devils.” Our churches, our homes, and our world are under siege. We can believe the doubters, or we can believe the Lord Himself and His Holy Spirit that dictated His Holy Bible. Jesus stated, ”He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:16-18). If you have a corrupted Bible, those words have been removed or placed in doubt by modern translators. There is absolute proof that they are wrong; ignore them!

Our communities are full of perverted souls, and our homes and friends are under siege. He told us that we were guardians of our homes and churches. Read how He stated this great truth and promise, “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils” (Luke 11:21-22). He also said, “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12b). The strong man is Satan. He comes with his lies and intimidations, and the church world hides in their defeatist theology.

I remember a little girl that came to visit her dad while living with her mother, who was in a very questionable situation. She came with her dad to church and seemed perfectly normal. After church, they went home and she became very sick and disturbed. Eventually, I was called to the hospital. When I arrived, she was normal for a few minutes and spoke kindly to me. Then, she became agitated and began to taunt me in a guttural voice. “My god is bigger than your God,” she declared. All evidence of being possessed by an unclean spirit was present. We began to pray, and a standoff of at least thirty minutes occurred. Suddenly, she was perfectly free and returned to normal; the demons had departed. The next day the doctor called me to thank me for coming and to give witness of her perfect healing.

We must learn to discern “unclean spirits” in the church, our homes, or anywhere our duty takes us. Spirit-filled believers have the perfect right to cast out these unclean entities. “There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one” (Acts 5:16). We must not make a show of our victories or create a great fanfare. That has left a bad name on this Biblical truth. Casting out unclean spirits is as simple as laying hands on the sick. Jesus simply rebuked them and they departed. There are multitudes of families, homes, and troubled lives that we will never help until “we bind the strong man” and throw him out. Jesus said, “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house” (Mark 3:27).

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The Battle in Religious Music

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

music

Music was created to be a language of the human spirit. It was never meant to be called the language of the soul. Man is a spiritual creature and singing is one of man’s highest ideals. Life without music and singing would be dull and empty. Not only is music a language of our human spirit, it is also a primary language of our worship. The human spirit is our direct line of communion with God. Spiritual singing unites us to Him for fellowship and life. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

Singing was ordained by God to be full of Him, His words, and answers that satisfy our daily longing after Him. Modern music is similar to Modern art and Modern living, it is full of questions with very few answers. It is like a painting full of color with no capturing scenes. Modern music is almost totally the same theology as the “positive thinking” ideas of Robert Schuller. Rick Warren calls his church, “The flock that rocks.” You are not likely to find a liberal church that is now called “The Emerging Church” that sings Gospel music. Modern/Contemporary music is the music of churches that have left the fundamentals of Holy Scripture.

I have spent about two weeks trying to listen as much as possible to music from both the Gospel styles and the Modern styles. As I have listened, I have kept extensive notes. I use these two terms to cover the many variations of each category. Please understand that I know there is a little decent music in the Modern variations, and there are some very bad songs and styles in the Gospel variations. My words are not meant to sweep with a broom that is too broad, but I must speak truth.

While listening to Gospel music, I have found an overwhelming abundance of themes straight out of Holy Scripture. Here are some of the actual words that fill the songs: Calvary, forgiveness, being Born Again, repentance from sin, and the consequences of living an unholy life are constantly present. The Blood of Christ is also a constant theme. The Born-Again life of happiness and holiness is heard over and over. Terms like “straight and narrow,” “whosoever will,” “Jesus Christ died for one and all,” and “He set me free” are sung in many songs.

There is an extremely strong presence in Gospel singing of the prophetic messages in the Bible. “The Rapture,” “the sounding of the trumpet,” “going home with Jesus,” and “in the twinkling of an eye” are some happy themes often heard. Our future robes of “spotless white” and the great “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” are never forgotten. In fact, after one straight session of only ninety minutes, I had heard every theme I could name out of the Holy Bible. By listening to Gospel music — including Southern Gospel, Church Hymns, etc. — you will get an understanding of the Christian life, along with the great truths that we believe and love. It’s easy to understand that Gospel singing is going to be the music of any strong Bible-believing church.

Listening to the Modern music has really been an education for me. I find it almost impossible to explain my experience. I have not heard one whisper of prophecy in all the Modern music to which I have listened. I heard the Blood of Christ casually named one time. I made a note for myself after a full hour of listening, “One hour and not one word of His blood or Calvary, not one word of repentance or sorrow for sins.” That hour had been nothing but “praise and thanks” that gave no valid understanding of what brought them to such a state of ecstasy. Believe me; the “state of ecstasy” had been on a pitch above normal even for a Pentecostal like me.

After Sirius XM, I tried the Billy Graham station in Black Mountain, NC, and all the songs were of no understandable difference. I heard one requested song that was played for a woman in the hospital. The theme was, “I waited for you today, I needed you today,” but there was never an answer given to that lady’s needs. As I said earlier, the only answers in the Modern music I heard was to just “praise Him” regardless of the situation. It’s like praising someone that you have really never come to know in the great revelations of the Holy Bible. It was religious “positive thinking” saturating every song.

It appears to me that once an individual is hooked on Modern/Contemporary music, there is no turning around. It is soulical music and it creates a strong religious satisfaction and bondage that defies escape. It’s religious noise that drives the human emotions wild. It’s a “god” without standards, convictions, or adherence to Biblical truth. Their response is “I just like it so, leave me alone.”

I have come to believe more strongly than ever that Gospel music is music that is full of answers, while Modern/Contemporary music is full of vain repetitions. While most of the questions are not bad, modern theology and music has forgotten how to proclaim God’s straight Biblical answers to human life. Gospel music is Christ-centered and Bible-centered, while Modern/Contemporary music is man-centered and emotions-centered. Gospel music is the source of great joy because it blends the answers with the questions. Gospel music is also full of praise, but with great understanding of the God and Christ we are praising.

I know this article is incomplete because no one person has all of God’s answers. Please be a part of discussing this article by going to our Internet and adding your own postscript. It is located at the bottom of the page containing the full article. I will be reading your opinions and watching for what I expect will be a healthy discussion. The URL for this article, “The Battle in Religious Music,” is http://www.pawcreek.org/salty-saints/the-battle-in-religious-music. Please be a part of these discussions.

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Scented Saints

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Candles

Incense has always played a part in all religions. Visit the religious shrines of the world and you will usually find many candles burning in different shapes and configurations. The demon gods demand that their worshippers offer perfumed honor in their behalf. The idea of incense as found in these religions is not only wrong, it is terribly distorted.

The Holy Bible has much to say about incense, but so different from the showy world of false religions. Biblical incense is a life lived in the graces of Jesus Christ and the perfume is Holiness — His Holiness — not candles of various smells. We are to be unto our God a sweet savor of Christ. Our Heavenly Father revels in a life so pure and full of grace that the aroma of Jesus Christ spreads out into our world. This aroma is a savor (perfume) of life unto life to the believers and, also, a savor of death unto death to the spiritually dead.

Listen as Apostle Paul shares His revelation of the incense. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor (aroma) of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (II Corinthians 2:14-16). The depth of this truth has little interest in our worldly churches. The perfume of His presence cannot be lit like a candle. The whole idea of worshipping with scented lights is pagan and blasphemous. The Holiness of His redemptive graces and life imparted to us is the only perfume that can waft its way into His presence.

Our God is exalted by saints that dwell long and patiently in His Son’s presence. As we revel in His Holy revelations and by faith allow His blood to sanctify and purify body, soul, and spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23), we indeed can offer incense (a sweet savor) unto our Father. This sweet savor is the making of revival and spiritual awakening. Conviction of the Holy Ghost will follow “Scented Saints.” Our lives will bless the church and the world. Sinners of our day have heard so much from and about religious people that show no “graces of righteousness” that religion has become a fluke. The world is plainly rejecting the false pretense that goes for Christianity today.

“Scented Saints” is the heart’s cry of Biblical truth. Soft words by “Scented Saints” will break hard hearts. Biblical Holiness is not hard, demanding, nor is it condemning. Biblical Holiness is a work of such power and beauty that it melts the arrogance of our enemies. It is His nature, the same nature that wicked men could not resist when He walked this earth. One police officer sent to arrest Him returned to those in authority without Him proclaiming, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). A hard Roman soldier beneath His cross finally said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

“Forgive me, God, for trying to light a candle that I might shine. I surrender before such grace as is revealed in your cross. In your presence, teach me to let your aroma fill every part of my being until my Father makes me a blessing to saints and sinners alike. I surrender to be a Scented Saint in a sick and repulsive world. Amen!”

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The “Watered Garden” of Our Lord

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

WateredGarden

The Church of Jesus Christ has been identified in Scripture, “A garden enclosed is …my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed” (Song of Solomon 4:12). Only the Holy Spirit could speak with such authority and grandeur. The world disclaims the church because it only sees the exterior of religious organizations. The Triune God looks inside and sees the Saints shut up in His cocoon of grace as beautiful as a cultivated garden. Christ’s true church has never been a mixed multitude but a Hidden Remnant.

The Bridegroom Himself declares our unseen beauty, “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, the kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). Our incredible beauty will not be seen until we arise to ascend the steepes of the sky. The Rapture will expose His grand and spotless jewels that are decked with grace, borne out of His mutilated flesh. Her beauty is not — now or then — of the tinsel from a dime store or the creation of lustful flesh.

The Psalmist got a glimmer of this company and was smitten with her aroma of beauty, “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings’ daughters were among thy honorable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir” (Psalm 45:8-9). These ointments are the other worldly ones and the “gold of Ophir” is priceless in its purity. The aroma and matchless beauty of the raptured spouse will precede her into the nuptial chamber of Heavenly Jerusalem, where the Bridegroom awaits her arrival. He could be standing in the foyer, even as we anticipate our leaving.

His Garden is enclosed. Let the church world brag about her right to live in their sins, but this Garden is not just one of the fields where many things grow. Malachi described this Garden as the Saints written in a Book of Remembrance. They had a beautiful reputation, “Then they that feared the LORD Spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name” (Malachi 3:16). The promise to them is one of the First Testament’s greatest mention of the Rapture, “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him” (Malachi 3:17).

If you dare to doubt that this Garden of our Lord is only filled with plants of rare redeemed beauty, let the Holy Spirit speak to you, “Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon” (Song of Solomon 4:13-15). The Grace of Christ is not cheap. Its action is to beautify the ugly, to cleanse the defiled, and to redeem the lost and broken. His plants will not need the cheap work of religious psychologists. “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation” (Psalm 149:4).

The Son of God spoke of this River of Living Waters, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). This reference from the Lord leaves no doubt that Solomon spoke of the Bridegroom and His Bride. Remember, Christ said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16). A large multitude claims faith in Christ but know nothing of the transformed life. If anyone is not transformed, they are certainly not in His Watered Garden.

Life within this Garden is ultimate life right here on God’s earth, but the best is yet to come. This Garden is the Bridegroom’s espoused Bride. We are His charming lovers that await the finishing touches on our wedding garments. These garments are woven by the needlework of a divine seamstress. Saved by Grace — intricately seamed by the daily cleansing of Holy Scripture — the Holy Spirit draws us to Christ and loads us with His benefits.

The eyes of those that grow in this Watered Garden are trained on the sky. It’s impossible to live for the here and now when the garden we are planted in is but a foretaste of our future home. The world has lost its charm to the Saints living so close to eternity. The water in Christ’s Garden is divine life by the Holy Spirit. Every time we pray through it’s like drinking from the River of Life flowing out of God’s throne, “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not” (Isaiah 58:11). The Garden of our Lord is a Garden enclosed, watered, and visited by the Garden Keeper.

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The Great White Throne

Friday, July 16th, 2010

GreatWhiteThrone

As the final moment arrives to complete the judgment of sinners, we can expect that arrogance and rebellion have finally finished their course. The Bible is filled with godless men that were always ready to laugh in the face of God. The nature of sin, which started in Heaven among the angels and invaded the garden of perfect beauty to defile the human family, was never a light thing. Some men restrain themselves lest they show the full potential of their evil possibility, but the ultimate powers are never far below the surface. Sin is deeply rooted and blatantly destructive. When sin is unrestrained, it is as dark as midnight. Even when it is restrained, it is still nothing but naked death.

The result of sin was clearly visible when Lucifer chose a creature to hide within and stole his way into the first garden. That creature walked into the presence of Adam; but because of the weight of sin’s consequence, he had to crawl out. This has been the perfect result of sin for six thousand years. Sin never leaves with the same beauty with which it enters. Sin is totally incapable of maintaining the joy of its own action. By sin’s own nature, it is not capable of one act without leaving a dark mark on its victim.

If the human family could simply gather up the fragments left of anyone overcome by sin and look at it without the facade that Satan has produced, we would hate its every expression. We see only the obscure lines of age, disease, exhaustion, and brokenness and forget that all of this is the remnant of the fallen nature. With our naked eyes, we have never seen a man or woman that hasn’t been touched by sin; so, we do not know for what to look. Sin works deeply, often slowly, but it holds firmly. When it is finished, nothing is left. The Bible never covers over this story, but “we see through a glass darkly” (I Corinthians 13:12).

All of this is about to change. The greatest glimpse of sin man has ever witnessed was on the cross when God in the flesh died. He was a perfect picture of a sinless man. His very presence was awesome because He walked in perfection. When He spoke, men of authority, trained to be unbending, sent to arrest Him said, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). When He died, the universe shook so violently that it was called an earthquake. The sun went out, the rocks were rent like a garment, and the Son of God cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

The Book of Revelation is the picture of the horrors of sin meeting the master of sin. While we know that, because of our redemption, sin met its Master in the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, the world does not know that yet. The world will know, and the signs suggest, that it will be very soon. The Great Tribulation of seven years will purge this earth of every effect that sin has had on our environment. The War in Heaven, led by angels, will strip Satan of his obscure and safe staging area and cast him down to the earth. The seals, trumpets, thunders, plagues, and vials of wrath will together repay Satan and all that share his nature of every evil act. When the One World Religion and the One World Government of Revelation chapters seventeen and eighteen are finished, the only judgment left will be for God to resurrect the wicked dead and open the books of human deeds. This is what the Bible calls the White Throne Judgment.

After the entire cosmos has been purified to a spotless perfection, death and hell, the sea and the grave, and the lowest regions of the earth will give up the soul of every wicked person to face God in a perfectly sinless courtroom at the White Throne Judgment. In such an atmosphere the least of sins will rip the soul of every guilty individual. Before the Great Judge has even spoken, the wails and screams of the wicked will be unbearable. When the wicked are finally judged and they have passed into this Lake of Fire, “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). This earth is soon to be a garden and the happiness of His family will fill the earth.

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The “Great Whore” is Here!

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

GreatWhore

In one generation, the modern church has become the harlot woman of Revelation chapter seventeen. There are uncompromising saints everywhere and the distinction is that they know something is terribly wrong. A multitude of these Bible-believers have tried to stay in those churches and help turn them back, but that is hopeless. That is not what the Lord Jesus wants us to do. He said, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins” (Revelation 18:4b). You are going to do that or you are going to be judged with “her.”

This “Great Whore” is soon to be judged. In fact, you can see judgment already at work. Effeminacy has gripped the ministers and a great part of the male leadership of the church world. The women have utterly forsaken feminine characteristics and godly living. It’s amazing to watch the men becoming effeminate and the women becoming masculine. The only word for such a dominating turn is the judgment of God. The Holy Spirit is giving them up to their distorted, carnal ambitions and passions. The worse is yet to come.

Let’s look at the judgment that is soon to fall on this “whorish” church world. At the command of Jesus Christ, which He received from the Father, an angel spoke to John, “Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters” (Revelation 17:1b). God’s Bible is infallible and every ministry, denomination, or local congregation that has forsaken any part of truth is ripe for the judgment. The Son of God left no room for carelessness. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). We are without excuse!

Drunkenness has become the dominating mood. Not drunkenness from strong drink but drunkenness from the love of this world, its pleasures, and its perceived success. You must understand that conviction of righteousness and holiness has been withdrawn. This is the first sign of judgment. The Holy Spirit has been distorted, grieved, maligned, and imitated until at the Lord’s command He has withdrawn from almost the entire church world. If you try to tell those involved this has happened – almost the entire church world — they will hate and destroy you if they can. Nothing is more evident in this “Great Whore” than total drunkenness and obliviousness to the developing judgment and God’s call back to the Holy Word of God.

Not only is she drunk, but she is blind. The great hope of the Church has always been the return of Christ to Rapture us and to remove us from the judgment to come. This is a New Testament theme. Those church groups that claim to still believe in the Rapture have become incapable of preaching the truth. Constantly, the good saints that are trying to remain with this blind church world are begging the ministers to preach the Rapture, but they only get crumbs. The ministers will say little nothings that sound good to these thirsty souls, but they are only crumbs to keep the saints fooled.

The worship has turned from spiritual to soulical. The music excites the base desires for fleshly satisfaction instead of a sacred longing after Christ and His sweet Spirit. Watching contemporary musicians do their thing is like watching unsanctified flesh bouncing and gravitating. This new music will stir religious people to go ballistic emotionally but leave the godly feeling empty and depressed. Contemporary music is an imitation of spiritual music and worship. Watch the people — singers or worshippers — and their lives will be a perfect picture of the downward spiral from Biblical godliness to utter compromise.

This Spirit said, “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication” (Revelation 17:3-4). The “Great Whore” church is “full of names of blasphemy.” Here are the seven blasphemous characteristics in her name:

Full of Names of Blasphemy:
1. Denies the absolute authority of Holy Scripture.
2. Blasphemes the single source for the cleansing of human sins.
3. Rejects the fear of God, which is God’s lasting means of wisdom.
4. Denies the absolute demand of holiness in the human temple (our body).
5. Blasphemes the created sacredness of male and female.
6. Forsakes the great depth and beauty of the human spirit.
7. Transfers the center of human life from the spirit to the soul or the fallen nature.

Do not be fooled! At the beginning of the embrace of soulical music, the theology seems intact. It will only take a few months and then the drastic changes will begin. The change is called a paradigm shift and there is seldom any possibility of a return to the Biblical mindset.

The “Great Whore” is going to be judged at the conclusion of the seven years of this Great Tribulation. Most of the church world, where this woman reigns, has either forsaken the Book of Revelation or in the process of forsaking it. Preaching or teaching on these strong prophecy trends is utterly absent or given only lip service. Any emphasis on separation from sin and worldliness has been deserted. The distinction of male and female is lost. The attire is effeminate for men and Jezebel-like for women, and they consider me insane for saying such things.

She will be burned with fire, “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled” (Revelation 17:16-17). Even John the Revelator was impressed with her magnificence and had to be rebuked. You may have the same emotions, but now the cover is blown.

“Come Out of Her!” Quit hanging around a church world that God, by Jesus Christ, called “the Great Whore.” Unless you give up your bondage to this Antichrist system, you will be judged with her. “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). Do not repeat the worn out excuse, “I’m waiting for God to tell me to get out of my compromised church.” He already has. You must obey Him or you will suffer the judgment that is soon to fall.

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The Triumphant “Seed of Woman”

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

rahab

The Holy Scripture is traced from beginning to end with a scarlet cord. That painful sacrifice of blood cannot be separated from the “Seed of Woman” that God protects from defilement. It is one of the Bible’s greatest mysteries and is finished in the Bible’s greatest Book of Revelation. This seed line begins in Genesis and is not finished until the last book of the Bible. These two books are maligned and doubted more than all other books of the Bible altogether. Satan hates the “seed of woman” as revealed in this mystery. This seed is God’s plan and man’s only hope.

The Book of Genesis is a perfect revelation from God and this promise of the “seed of woman” and Satan’s defeat elevates it to sublimity. Why a Bible theologian, or even a student, could question this opening volley of truth is beyond my understanding. This earth is God’s garden and the greatest of revelations is incomplete without the opening moments. Nothing in our past, present, or future is an accident. This earth is the Lord’s and the glorious end fits perfectly with the supernatural beginning. He created us in His likeness and beauty and the redeemed, which enter New Jerusalem, will have been recreated, born again, in that blood-washed likeness.

The Heavenly Father spoke the revealing words of this mystery, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Satan had deceived Eve, and then Adam, into this dark chasm of rebellion. In that fallen state they would be driven out of God’s garden, bury their second son, and then watch the first son, a murderer, carry a mark of rejection the rest of his life. The cost was exceedingly painful and even debilitating and has spawned every dark event in history. It is unthinkable that human existence could have survived without that crimson cord and the seed that would carry that stream of hope.

Noah’s family found grace in the eyes of God and that grace allowed Noah’s wife to continue the stream. When Abraham sojourned in Egypt, his doubtful heart caused him to suffer Sarah to be abducted by the Pharaoh. God protected the “seed of woman” from defilement by putting the fear of God on Pharaoh and, even plagued his house, that he touched not Sarah.

This great mystery had to pass beyond the Jewish lineage because our God is not a prejudiced Sovereign. When Joshua sent the spies to prepare for the fall of Jericho, a harlot woman became their protector and means of escape. This unconverted woman was moved of God to use her schemes to hide the spies and to let them down from her window on the wall. She was instructed to hang a scarlet cord out of that window and trust this unknown God for her safety. She was well rewarded and married into the pure lineage of Godly men and women and was the mother of Boaz.

The Gentile presence in the “Seed of Woman” did not end with Rahab but continued in the very next generation. Boaz begat Obed by Ruth, the Moabite that had returned to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi. The Gospel of Matthew beautifully reveals this holy seed, “And Salmon begat Boaz of Rachab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias” (Matthew 1:5-6).

It’s most likely that the wife of Urias, who David stole from his faithful servant, was also a Gentile woman. Bathsheba was certainly not guilty of David’s vile action because she was given no choice by the King when he bid her to his bedroom.

Mary, the espoused wife of Joseph, is considered by almost every theologian I have studied, to be the final end of this holy seed. The Holy Ghost came upon her and she was found with child having never known a man. God’s Son was sanctified by this Divine conception and sent into the world. This pure Son, holy and filled with the Holy Ghost, was our spotless sacrifice. He became the Head of His body, the church, so, we are now the pure seed of the “seed of woman” and carry forward that scarlet cord of a blood sacrifice in the New Testament. If the head, Jesus Christ, is of that holy seed, then the body of that head is also of that crimson cord and holy seed. His body, the church, is a special company.

It is a miracle beyond comprehension to consider six thousand years of the perfect lineage of this holy seed. We know that Rahab was a harlot, but her purity is recognized from her conversion and not from her heathen past. This fact only adds to the power of grace and redemption that renders the redeemed as if they had never sinned. She was as pure as her Jewish counterparts.

But, there is one more triumph for this “seed of woman.” The great and most often misinterpretation of truth in the Book of Revelation is the final scene. A “Sun-clothed woman” is heavy with child. That child is called a “man-child” and the devil is standing guard to devour him as soon as the child is born. While he has harassed the “seed of woman” for six thousand years, this final moment robs him of his schemes. The mature and triumphant company of those redeemed by the blood is caught up to God and His throne, while Satan can only watch in utter dismay. “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne” (Revelation 12:1-5).

This can be none other than the raptured saints of God. The Lord had spoken that every truth from Revelation 4:1 was “hereafter.” Nothing is historical in Revelation from that point when the saints move up to Heaven. This man-child is to rule all nations and the Bride of Christ is promised that task numerous times. The devil is then cast out of Heaven and we know that has not happened and cannot happen until this moment in future prophecy. As soon as the devil is cast to the earth, he reveals his Antichrist – that is still future. Our Scripture designated this entire truth to occur when the saints are removed by the Rapture.

It’s thrilling to be a part of this triumphant company of overcomers and saints of God preparing for the completion of all things. To join the greatest miracle of all eternity we will climb to the steeps of the sky and enter into Heavenly Jerusalem to the shouts and praises of His angels. What joy! To hear the King proclaim, “Welcome Home, enter into the joys of the Lord,” is worth all that we have forsaken to follow Him into this glory.

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